Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 22 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($197,700 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($940 vs $1,224)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salem by $14,746/yr
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Salem, OR
Pros
63% less violent crime than Pueblo
Households earn $14,746 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Pueblo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$152k less
$197,700 vs $349,500
Pueblo
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$14,746
$67,540 vs $52,794/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
63% lower
532.2 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Salem
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 22 categories. Pueblo wins 10 and Salem wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Pueblo to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $349,500 median home), income ($52,794 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Salem, OR are about 1,053 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.